Paul Bonifas
Director of Operations
9H Research Foundation
Laramie, WY USA
“There’s a different path for everybody, and the path can zig and zag.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationPaul Bonifas
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
I was born in France and moved with my family to south Texas and then to Casper, Wyoming, always following my father’s job in uranium mining.
After high school, I knew I wanted to go to college, but I had no idea what I wanted to study—I was good at math and science, so I was encouraged to go into engineering.
I started with petroleum engineering, but switched to chemical engineering because it sounded interesting—I kept taking petroleum engineering electives because those jobs started at a higher salary.
After graduating, I took a job as a reservoir petroleum engineer in Dallas, Texas.
The oil industry crashed and I was laid off, but I was actually excited because it gave me an opportunity to explore the world—I booked a ticket to Thailand and spent the next few months backpacking.
I took another job as an engineer in North Dakota before deciding to go back to school—I received a grant that allowed me to earn both my MBA and a master’s degree in petroleum engineering.
After graduate school, I explored some entrepreneurial and consulting opportunities—one of those opportunities led me back to Wyoming as a petroleum engineering consultant.
I was again laid off when oil crashed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but I was quickly recruited to the 9H Research Foundation, where I now help drive innovation in clean energy and engineering.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Bachelor
Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
University of Wyoming
Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
University of Wyoming
Career
Director of Operations
I help drive innovation in clean energy and engineering while supporting Wyoming's economy.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Science
Accomplishing Goals
Day to Day
9H Research Foundation is focused on identifying new and more efficient ways of generating, storing, and delivering clean, renewable, zero-emission energy. We're building a PV solar facility and hands-on research facility to facilitate clean energy research. Our goal is to help the University of Wyoming become the premier research center for clean energy. As director of operations, my day-to-day job involves project management, permitting, and networking to ensure the project becomes a reality.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
There is no one-size fits all answer for getting into this industry. In general, I believe a difficult engineering degree will give you the tools needed to critically think and problem solve. It seems that career success is a combination of hard work, perseverance, and being well-liked by the people you meet. I would try to avoid student debt. Get scholarships, join the military, apply for grants, etc.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"You'll never find another job if you leave to go backpacking around the world."
Interviewed By
Forever Frontier
Young adults from Wyoming explore the state’s strengths
